Puppy Mills confine puppies to small wire cages where they have little to no human socialization, a lack of adequate food and water, and can be found covered in their own feces. Non-profit animal organizations such as the Humane Society of the United States are working on spreading legislation and grass-root methods that will help “crack down” on Puppy Mills across the state of Pennsylvania; warning the public of the dangers lurking behind some pet store cages.
You walk into a local pet store and what do you see? Chances are, you were lured into the store by the charming puppy that you had seen in the window. Store associates insist that the puppy is both healthy and ready for adoption. However, when you take the puppy home, you notice that he or she has many medical conditions, and you are spending an increasingly large sum of money to cover the costs of the dog’s medication and vet visits.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, Pennsylvania is considered to be one of the biggest puppy mill states in the country, with many mills found throughout Lancaster County. Many of these dogs are transported to pet stores for a profit, instead of being provided with the much needed companionship in local shelters. In a puppy mill, adult dogs are used for breeding until they can no longer do so; they are then shot and killed by their breeders. These are common practices found among Amish puppy mill owners in Lancaster County.
Currently, leaders in animal advocacy such as HSUS PA state Director, Kristen Tullo are working on effective strategies that will help pet stores such as Pets Plus in Bensalem, PA, adopt dogs from local area shelters, instead of puppy mill breeders. “This is a Corporate Policy Perspective”, Tullo mentions, “We have to crack down on Puppy Mills until they don’t exist, anymore”. Other animal advocates such as Senator Roy Afflerbach, the former Mayor of Allentown and Humane Society Lobbyist, hold local meetings with Humane Society members about effective ways to prevent animal abuse, and are pushing to shut down mills through legislative efforts.
“Puppy mills combine the worst aspects of industrialized husbandry and mass merchandising”, Senator Afflerbach notes, “In November of 2008, the PA legislature, with the support of Governor Ed Rendell, and after years of debate, passed legislation that succeeded in closing over 134 of the worst puppy mills, by requiring basic improvements for cage size, ventilation, temperature control, exercise, and vet exams”. However, he also mentions that mills such as these “continue to operate; some legally and others illegally”, through marketing and sales on the Internet.
Senator Richard Alloway sponsors a Kennel License Bill which limits those whose kennel licenses have been revoked from getting a new foothold in the kennel business. Additionally, Senator Stewart Greenleaf also sponsors a bill that seeks to strengthen the Puppy Lemon Law, which gives owners of puppy mill dogs 10 days to document the dog’s medical illnesses.
These are some of the ways that animal advocates and non-profits such as the HSUS are continuing to fight for the eventual shutting down of all puppy mills in Pennsylvania.
Senator Roy Afflerbach is doing his best to address public concerns. However, with the sale approach that is still in effect in many pet stores receiving their dogs from puppy mills:
“Unfortunately, those who think of animals as a commodity rather than loving, feeling, companion beings will continue to treat them as nothing more than a way to make a fast dollar by playing to the good nature of pet loving consumer”.
Other animal lobbyists and animal advocates are hopeful that through legislative efforts, and hands on approaches such as the ones being used by Tullo in Pet Stores, puppy mills will be swiftly shut down.
“Promoting adopting of shelter animals through pet stores is another effective method to interrupt the demand and supply chain from mills”, Senator Roy Afflerbach adds. “By publicizing the realities of puppy mill exploitation, complete with photographs and, through focusing on consumer protection and puppy lemon laws, advocates are able to expand the base of people opposing purchase and sale from mill operators”.
Despite the difficulties that come with keeping these safety methods in place, animal advocates are not giving up hope. As Kristen Tullo explains, “It is about working through grass-root approaches and legislation that will help shut down these puppy mills.”